📍 Location: HMP Ashfield
🕒 Hours: Full-time, 37.5hrs/week (Monday to Friday)
💼 Contract: Permanent
📅 Start Date: ASAP
Are you passionate about improving the lives of older people in the criminal justice system?
We’re working with a national criminal justice charity committed to ensuring older individuals in prison lead dignified, healthy, and fulfilling lives. This pioneering organisation delivers specialist support programmes across the UK and is now looking for a Service Manager to lead their work inside HMP Ashfield.
About the Role As Service Manager, you’ll take the lead on two key areas:
1. Team Leadership & Service Oversight:
- Manage and support a small on-site team of Older Prisoner Coordinators
- Drive a positive team culture and ensure day-to-day delivery aligns with the organisation’s mission and contract objectives
- Provide professional supervision, guidance and motivation to direct reports
- Ensure compliance with safeguarding, risk, health & safety, and data security procedures
- Prepare timely service delivery reports and work closely with senior management
- Coordinate and expand the delivery of a unique peer-led initiative that trains selected prisoners to support fellow residents with health and social care needs
- Oversee recruitment, training and supervision of the “Buddies” to ensure care is delivered to adapted National Care Standards
- Liaise with prison staff, healthcare teams, probation, and wider services to ensure safe and effective delivery of support
- Champion person-centred care and purposeful activity within the prison setting
- Identify gaps and contribute to future service improvements and development
Ideal Candidate
✅ Experience in health, social care or criminal justice, ideally with older people or individuals with complex needs
✅ Confident people manager – able to inspire, support and develop others
✅ Skilled at multi-agency working and relationship-building across varied sectors
✅ Excellent written and verbal communication skills – including reporting, data tracking and IT fluency
✅ Passionate about creating inclusive, respectful environments where vulnerable individuals are supported to thrive
Essential Requirements
- A-Level, NVQ Level 3, DipSW or equivalent qualification
- Teaching/training qualification (or willingness to obtain)
- Full UK driving licence + access to a vehicle
- Strong organisational skills, calm under pressure, outcome-focused
- Able to pass prison clearance (support provided)
- Knowledge of voluntary or criminal justice sectors
- Experience of delivering training or coaching
- Understanding of barriers facing older prison leavers
- Business development mindset – identifying funding or service growth opportunities
Interested?
Send your CV to oliver.jefferson@servicecare.org.uk or apply directly.
